unknown author: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

O gin I were a Baron's heir

unknown author

“O gin I were a Baron's heir” as printed in The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850).

unknown author: Collected Lyrics Text 16 1850 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Scottish Minstrel (First Series), a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Oh, gin I were a baron's heir,

And could I braid wi' gems yer hair,

And mak ye braw as ye are fair,

Lassie, would ye luve me?

Verse 2

And could I tak ye to the town,

And shaw ye braw sights mony a ane,

And busk ye fine in silken gown,

Lassie, would ye luve me?

Verse 3

Or should ye be content to pruve,

In lowly life unfading luve,

A heart that nought on earth could muve,

Lassie, would ye luve me?

Verse 4

And ere the lav'rock wing the skie,

Say, wad ye to the forest hie,

And work wi' me sae merrilie,

Lassie, could ye luve me?

Verse 5

And when the braw moon glistens o'er

Our wee bit bield and heathery muir,

Will ye na greet for ye're sae puir,

Lassie, tho' I luve ye?

Verse 6

For I hae nought to offer ye,

Nae gowd frae mine, nae pearl frae sea,

Nor am I come o' hie degree,

Lassie, but I luve ye.

Credits

Written by unknown author

Words by unknown author. Historical text published in The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Scottish Minstrel (First Series) (1850), “O gin I were a Baron's heir”

Every contribution in this 1850 anthology predates modern copyright terms; any contributor died more than 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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